When we were kids, we couldn’t stand each other, but now I could not imagine life without him. My older brother has been one of the most important men in my life from the time I was born. I may be biased (because I do have the best big brother in the world), but here are the top five reasons why I think having a big brother makes you a better woman.
1. They teach you to be tough. I still remember being five years old and play-wrestling with my brother. He would never let me win (he was too manly for that, being nine years old and having a reputation to uphold) so I had to learn to stick up for myself and hold my own. I learned not to cry when I got a scrap or a bruise like some of the other girls and to be strong no matter what.
2. They teach you humility. I cannot tell you how many times he has brought up something embarrassing that I did, even if it was years ago -- like when I decided it would be cool to cut my own bangs (I was wrong). Because they do that often, and usually at the worst times (like when a boy is over), you have to learn to laugh at yourself and not take everything so personally.
3. They teach you what you are worth. Sure they pick on you and insult you, but I promise you, the minute a boy does you wrong they are going to let you know just how stupid that boy is. To them, you may be a pain, but you are THEIR pain. They want the best for you, so if that boy you are seeing does not realize what you are worth, your brother will probably be the first one to point it out because he does know and wants you to know, too.
4. They teach you to go above and beyond. They probably don’t even realize that they are doing this, but they push us to be so much more than we would be without them. They are our role models from the time that we can toddle after them around the house, and whatever they do we want to do, well, better. My brother made good grades, so I did, too. My brother joined choir, so I did, too. My brother always wanted to go to church, so I did, too. Eventually I stopped doing all these things because of him and started doing them for me, but there are so many things I would have missed out on if it wasn’t for his influence.
5. They teach you unconditional love. I know I am probably not the only one who has told my brother I hated him a few times in my life, but I know I am also not the only one who has told him I loved him more times than I can count. Despite all of our fights and how much we may get on each other’s nerves, my brother is my best friend and has taught me what unconditional love really is.
Because of my brother, I not only have a better sense of self, but I also have a good model for what the other relationships in my life should look like -- not entirely perfect, but full of lots of laughter and unconditional love. I can never thank my brother enough for making me the best woman I can be.
